PANJIM: Villagers of Bhattier-Nerul have complained against the destruction of mangroves that are being covered by construction debris and land is being reclaimed by filing the river, in violation of environmental statutes and regulations including the CRZ notification.
While the transportation has reportedly been stopped after the intervention of the local MLA, villagers said that the local panchayat has allowed illegal constructions in the no development zone. A complaint has been sent to Nerul panchayat as well as undersecretary Panchayats, Director Panchayats, Collector North Goa, the GSCZMA.
Villagers claim that the panchayat has taken a stand that there is no complaint in regards to the filling of land near the river, a statement that has irked the residents.
“We remind the Panchayat and the Deputy Sarpanch in particular, that if he is not aware of the powers envisaged in the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, he should resign and make way for someone who is well versed with law and who can handle the responsibilities in a better, non-corrupt and efficient way. Moreover, the silence of the Sarpanch on this issue gives rise to further grave suspicions,” the memorandum submitted to the Panchayat by the villagers said.
The villagers were angered as trucks making multiple daily trips, were entering the fields in Bhattier with construction debris, dumping them in a property next to the river in violation of the law.
Villagers, who are mainly farmers, brought to notice of the sarpanch and local MLA that their fields were damaged due to the ongoing work.
